One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is the decorations. As a family, we enjoy driving around the neighborhoods, looking at the places that decorate with lights and wreaths and inflatables. This was something that I did as a kid, and I love enjoying this with my own kids. I think my husband enjoys putting up the lights at our house every year, even though it can be more work than he expects. It helps that our current home has low eaves, so he doesn't need to get on a ladder. He has enlisted help from our kids, and even some of the neighbor kids helped out.
I think my husband did a great job decorating our house, but I would not consider it spectacular. Yet, he has received several compliments about it! There is something about a house all lit up for the holidays that brings me joy. If it brings me joy, then maybe it brings others joy too. I am really not very good at decorating, but I do what I can, when I want. This year, I really wanted to have our home decorated, not really knowing why. Looking at this verse from chapter 2 of the Book of Philippians, it makes more sense.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16 (English Standard Version)
We are called to not just be different from the world, but to shine as lights in the world. We look towards light when we are in darkness, to guide us through that darkness. May you be a light, someone who can guide others to the true Light, Jesus Christ, our Savior. [And, I encourage you to put some lights up!]
4 "We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5 (ESV)
